Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

711. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her Department's total capital and current expenditure budget for 2021 and 2022 for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence with a breakdown for each related allocation for both years, in tabular form. [3506/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand that, in the main, domestic violence issues and the associated funding streams are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, and are legislated for in the Domestic Violence Act 2018.

My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. A key objective of all my Department's programmes is that they are targeted at those sectors, areas and individuals most in need and at providing effective responses to ongoing and future economic and social challenges.

While my Department has no direct role in domestic violence matters, it does provide some funding to organisations that offer support to victims of domestic violence.

Scheme to Support National Organisations

The Department, through the current iteration of the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) 2019 to 2022, provides multi-annual core funding to four national, community and voluntary organisations that have a specified focus on addressing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The current iteration runs for a three year period, and concludes on 30 June 2022.

The following table sets out the total funding allocated to each of these four organisations for the programme period.

In addition there are other organisations funded under the current SSNO programme, while not having a specific focus on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, provide related supports and advocacy. Such examples include the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Free Legal Advice Centres, Barnardos and Children’s Rights Alliance.

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme

My Department also administers the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. Its aim is to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.

My Department is providing SICAP funding in excess of €220 million to Local Development Companies (LDCs) over six years from 2018 to 2023. In 2021 over €39 million was allocated to the programme, supporting front line workers in Local Development Companies to deliver SICAP on the ground. I am delighted to have secured an extra €4m for SICAP for 2022 which will provide for the creation of a significant number of job places for new community work on the ground in communities across Ireland.

SICAP & Domestic Abuse Services

Each LDC agrees an action plan with their Local Community Development Committee every year. There are 43 actions in the 2021/2022 plans which mention domestic abuse/violence in their action descriptions. They cover areas such as support to victims of domestic abuse/violence, support to vulnerable young people who are at greater risk of domestic violence, working with domestic violence groups to deliver supports and workshops. Some examples are outlined below.

In Cavan they have included an action in the 2022 plan that aims to support and resource disadvantaged communities and marginalised target groups to engage with relevant local and national service providers and relevant stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality issues. One specific element of this action aims to focus on planning around the provision of supports to victims of domestic violence.

In Bray, Co Wicklow, the Local Development Company is focused on supporting the local community centre where an emerging issue arising from COVID-19 has been increased incidence of people presenting to the centres as a result of domestic violence. A need has been identified in collaboration with Bray Women’s Refuge to provide outreach services in the centre. The Domestic Violence Programme will provide monthly outreach clinics in the Resource Centres in partnership with Bray Women’s Refuge.

In Cork, Kanturk, Newmarket & Millstreet an action has been included in the 2022 annual plan that focuses on the wider issue of the gender gap and includes a focus on domestic violence as part of the action. Although society has come a long way, there is still an extensive gender gap in relation to pay, pensions and equality. Because of this, women continue to be at a risk of suffering from disadvantage and poverty. The Duhallow Women’s Forum is comprised of representatives from the ICA, Duhallow Carers, Women’s Access Group, Domestic Violence, Community Childcare Facilities and Parent and Toddler Groups. These stakeholders identify issues on the ground and work on collective actions to improve the quality of life for women in the area. The Women’s Forum will hold a quarterly meeting and host a seminar relating to women’s issues. Duhallow Women’s Forum will actively collaborate with the National Women’s Council of Ireland on issues affecting women in rural Duhallow.

In Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in 2022 they have included an action to support the work of the Southside Addressing Violence Effectively Forum in DLR and, in 2022 will organise a workshop on issues of Power and Inclusion during the 16 Days against Gender Based Violence.

In Donegal, Inishowen, has 1 action in 2022 where domestic violence is highlighted “Tusla referrals in Donegal saw a 25% increase in domestic violence”. The action is targeted at parents, young people and children. This action will create the space and place for families/people to come together to interact with others who are facing the same challenges/barriers. It will encourage participants to engage in healthy lifestyle activities in their area including a focus on: Nutrition; Cookery; Physical Activity; Well-being; personal development; personal interest courses; etc. It will also focus on providing training in skills in stress control and how to manage stress control within the work place/home.